The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-01-29
IAN mark a. my own you shall offset it with
your own,

"WhimDarin, and truck ing fold with pswlers
for inyaliis, conform ty goa TO the fourth
rom vol
wstr my hat "a pl,ass indoors or out"
81 to- much tht ne has written is coarse
" vulgar Sgnburne is often times sensuous,
hut his sensuou5nGss is refinement itself ~
compared with the yugarity of Whitman
lie doe. not 60 out of his way TO choose II
nhrase that will call TO the Imagination n
picture that is dlsgustingly filthy thing
That the man rcunySon names as "the first
of American poets delights in doing Want
ing in polish in his literary style, without
beauty in his poetic thoughts lacking re.
fn,ment ia the choice Of words with which
to clothe the thoughts which in themselves
.icken a mini that seeks in verse the tender
ness and delcacy of feeling that is wanting
in the most exalted prose, il is indeed
strange that such a writer can draw to him.
self even meagre few who willingly do HIM
honor
The proposition looking to the pensioning
of Whitman on account Of his poetic talents,
calls to mind petition recently presented
to the senate by Senator Mitchell in behalf
Of one Sarah A. Kelley, residing at Homes
dale, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, widow
OF Horace Jackson Kelley, late Of Company c,
one hundred and seventy Sercnt. Pennsyl
vania Volunteers. The petition, after set
ting forth the fact that her husband was
drafted into the Uaiou army; that he was
honorably discharged, but became insane
from disease contracted in the service and
which resulted in his DEATH concludes as
follows:
| do further set forth that your petitioner
has literary attainments of no common or
der: that she takes great delight in writing
poems and songs large volume now
written she would be glad TO publish had she
the means. While other governments have
National Bards' this government has no
National Bard. and her greatest ambition
is TO be the National Bard v | would.
therefore, ask your honorable body to pass
act of congress making me the National
Bard" with an annual salary or pension as
a soldiers widow. SARAH 4. KELLEY.
|, seems that Mrs. Kelley has published
good many poems, and they all thrill with
the creaking of stable doors and the Growing
Of chantIceers There is marked simlari
ty between her efforts and those of Julia A.
Moore, .the sweet singer Of Michigan both
AS to subject matter and literary diction. Mrs
Kelley is as wild a worsnipper of uatamed
nature as Mrs. Moore, and both are realistic
to a degree that puts the most realistic
effort Of Whitman TO the blush.
Despite all this merit on the part of the
Pennsylvania songslress, her application to
be appointed the Nations Bard has not
been kindly treated by the senate committee
to which it was referred, On the other hand
the petition has been spurned and the fair
singer must rest content with seeing the bur
nished thoughts of her heart and brain pub
lishel in the columns of some obscure week.
" paper in Pennsylvania by
National sanction.
If the members of the house committee to
which the Whitman bill has been referred
prove TO be as unacceptable to the influence
of sweet poetry as their brethren in the
senate, Mr., Lowering bill will share the
fate of Mrs. Kelley's petition.
-
The retirement of Hon. Alfred Orendorff
from the position cf Chairman Of the State
Democratic Committee takes from the com
mittee very efficient man, and one having
at heart the best interests of the party. Mr..
Orendorif is a good representive of the
young element of the democracy Of Illinois
an element that in the coming political con.
tests will be a most Important factor. He
has throughout the whole course of Presi.
warm supporter and ardent admirer. His
admiration of the Presidents policy has not
been lessened by the fact that his name has
been mentioned in connection with several
offices and the President has not seen fit to
appoint him to either Of them His democ-
racy is not Of that stamp. We confess that
we have INDUCED the hope that Mr.. Oren-
dorf would be selected for some important
post of duty, not alone because of our warm
frien ship for him as a man, but as well be.
cause we know he would prove an important
aid to President Cleveland, and. Moreover,
his appointment would be recognition of
the young democracy Of the state.
There is evident need in Chicago for &C
tive work on the part of that traditional per-
son, "the fool killer." A young lady, Miss
Clara Van Zandt, once a student at Vassar,
has taken it into her head that TO make her
life one bright and continued blazon of sun
shine she must wed Augustus Spies, the
anarchist, who is now in the Cook county
Jail, under sentence of death for having com
mitted the crime of murder. Miss Van Zandt
saw Spies during his trial and her sympa.
lhetic heart went out to him to very mark
ed extent. This pleased Augustus, and if
! hal 20 har' "